Bible History
Picture Study Bible with Maps and Background Information
6. because ye are sons--The gift of the Spirit of prayer is the
consequence of our adoption. The Gentile Galatians might think, as the
Jews were under the law before their adoption, that so they, too, must
first be under the law. Paul, by anticipation, meets this objection by
saying, YE ARE sons, therefore ye need not be as children
(Ga 4:1)
under the tutorship of the law, as being already in the free state of
"sons" of God by faith in Christ
(Ga 3:26),
no longer in your nonage (as "children,"
Ga 4:1).
The Spirit of God's only Begotten Son in your hearts, sent from, and
leading you to cry to, the Father, attests your sonship by adoption:
for the Spirit is the "earnest of your inheritance"
(Ro 8:15, 16;
Eph 1:13).
"It is because ye are sons that God sent forth" (the Greek
requires this translation, not "hath sent forth") into
OUR (so the oldest manuscripts read for "your," in
English Version) hearts the Spirit of His son, crying, "Abba,
Father"
(Joh 1:12).
As in
Ga 4:5
he changed from "them," the third person, to "we," the first person, so
here he changes from "ye," the second person, to "our," the first
person: this he does to identify their case as Gentiles, with his own
and that of his believing fellow countrymen, as Jews. In another point
of view, though not the immediate one intended by the context, this
verse expresses, "Because ye are sons (already in God's electing
purpose of love), God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your
hearts," &c.: God thus, by sending His Spirit in due time, actually
conferring that sonship which He already regarded as a present reality
("are") because of His purpose, even before it was actually fulfilled.
So
Heb 2:13,
where "the children" are spoken of as existing in His purpose, before
their actual existence.
the Spirit of his Son--By faith ye are one with the Son, so that
what is His is yours; His Sonship ensures your sonship; His Spirit
ensures for you a share in the same. "If any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of His"
(Ro 8:9).
Moreover, as the Spirit of God proceeds from God the Father, so the
Spirit of the Son proceeds from the Son: so that the Holy Ghost, as the
Creed says, "proceedeth from the Father and the Son." The Father was
not begotten: the Son is begotten of the Father; the Holy
Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son.
crying--Here the SPIRIT is regarded as the
agent in praying, and the believer as His organ. In
Ro 8:15,
"The Spirit of adoption" is said to be that whereby WE cry, "Abba, Father"; but in
Ro 8:26,
"The SPIRIT ITSELF maketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered." The believers' prayer is His prayer: hence arises
its acceptability with God.
Abba, Father--The Hebrew says, "Abba" (a Hebrew term), the
Greek, "Father" ("Pater," a Greek term in the original), both
united together in one Sonship and one cry of faith, "Abba, Father." So
"Even so ('Nai,' Greek) Amen (Hebrew)," both meaning the
same
(Re 1:7).
Christ's own former cry is the believers' cry, "Abba, Father"
(Mr 14:36).
JFB.
The Book of Galatians
Galatians 1:11-12 - But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:4 - But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians in The New Testament - A Brief Overview
Painting of Paul the Apostle by Rembrandt - 1657
Introduction to The Book of Galatians
Brief Summary. Paul instructs the churches that he established in Galatia. He defends his apostleship against the Judaizers who wanted to mix Christianity with the Law of Moses. Paul says that salvation is by grace and not by law.
Summary of The Book of Galatians
Purpose. Paul was so well received by the Galatians that they even looked upon him as an angel or God himself (Galatians 4:14). The churches that he established had become strong churches, yet they were severely affected by the false teaching of the Judaizers. Paul deals with their false doctrines and their attacks at his apostleship, and shows clearly how Christianity cannot be mingled with Jewish laws and circumcision. He reminds them that his authority and ministry was not passed on through the other apostles, but came directly through Jesus Christ. Regarding Christianity he uses sound doctrine, Scripture, and allegory to show how Christianity is greater than the law. The true purpose of the law was to point to Jesus Christ, and the gospel does not see any difference between the Jew, the Greek, the free man, the slave, nor male nor female. Paul's message in the book of Galatians regarding Christianity and its relationship to the law of Moses is theologically brilliant, and some have referred to it as the Christian Declaration of Independence.
Audience. Scholars agree that paul was writing to the churches in Galatia which he established on his first missionary journey.
Authorship. Paul the Apostle was the author of the book of Galatians. Scholars agree that Paul was the author of the epistle to the Galatians. Paul refers to his own name as "Paul" twice in Galatians (Galatians 1:1 and 5:2). The second reference is very conclusive that it was Paul writing. There were several references to the life of Paul which can easily be harmonized with the Book of Acts.
Date. it is very difficult to be certain about the date of the epistle to the Galatians. Most scholars give it a 50 or 55 AD date.
Place Written. It is also difficult to be certain about the location where Paul wrote his epistle to the Galatians. Most likely it was written from either Syrian Antioch before the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) or it could have been written from Ephesus on Paul's second or third missionary journey.
Outline of the Book of Galatians
Paul's Message of the Gospel - Chapter 1:1-10
Paul Defends Justification by Faith - Chapters 1:11-2:21
Paul Explains Justification by Faith - Chapters 3:1-4:31
Paul Explains Applying Justification by Faith 5:1-6:18
The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus"
would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or
consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A).
Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means
"The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".
Galatians Maps and Resources
Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus, in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary Journey's. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he returned to the cities he had first visited on his first missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19). (Color Map)
Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the "Nations" within the ancient world during the first century A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Asia - This map shows the cities within
Asia Minor during the first century A.D., the time of the New
Testament. The map includes the principal cities of Asia
including Tarsus, Ephesus, and Colossae, and provinces like
Galatia and Pamphilia. (Color Map)